TRANSIENT TRANSFECTION OF PRIMARY T-HELPER CELLS BY PARTICLE-MEDIATEDGENE-TRANSFER

The study of the molecular basis of normal CD4 + T cell function, such as the control of commitment to the TH1 or TH2 phenotypes has been di fficult due to the resistance of these cells to transfection by conven tional methods. We used antibodies specific to T cell surface molecule s to immobilize these cells and optimized conditions for transiently t ransfecting them by means of particle-mediated gene transfer. Using th is technique, a construct encompassing - 577 to + 1 of the IL-4 promot er allowed transcription of a luciferase reporter gene in recently-dif ferentiated TH2 cells stimulated by anti-CD3, consistent with regulati on of endogenous IL-4 gene expression. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.